Flexible container for pourable product

ABSTRACT

A flexible container for containing a quantity of pourable product is disclosed herein. The flexible container includes a bag having a first closed end and a second closed end and a wall extending between the first closed end and the second closed end to define a closed cavity. The flexible container also includes a plurality of tearable score lines in the bag spaced from one another to define a plurality of differently configured intended openings in the bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/821,746 for a FLEXIBLE CONTAINER FOR POURABLEPRODUCT, filed on Aug. 8, 2006, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The inventions relate to a flexible container for containing a quantityof pourable product, such as a bag or pouch or sack, having a removableportion for defining an intended opening.

2. Description of the Related Art

Packages constructed from flexible materials such as laminates can beused to contain products that are pourable, such as liquids and powders.Other examples of the pourable products contained in packagesconstructed from flexible materials include discrete masses packaged,such as food products, plastic pellets, and gravel. With respect topourable, edible products, at least some are placed in hermeticallysealed pouches to preserve their freshness. These packages can includean opening for gaining access to the package interior. The opening canbe defined by a portion of the package that is removed from the rest ofthe packaged. The “removed” portion can be engaged with the rest of thepackage along a score line or “line of weakness.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the invention is a flexible container for containing aquantity of pourable product. The flexible container includes a baghaving a first closed end and a second closed end and a wall extendingbetween the first closed end and the second closed end to define aclosed cavity. The flexible container also includes a plurality oftearable score lines in the bag spaced from one another to define aplurality of differently configured intended openings in the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first flexible container according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first flexible container;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a second flexible container according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a first score line from the perspective ofarrows 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a second score line from the perspective ofarrows 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a third flexible container according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a fourth flexible container according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A plurality of different flexible containers are shown in the Figures ofthe application. Similar features are shown in the various flexiblecontainers. Similar features have been numbered with a common referencenumeral and have been differentiated by an alphabetic designation. Also,to enhance consistency, features in any particular drawing share thesame alphabetic designation even if the feature is shown in less thanall of the flexible containers. Similar features are structuredsimilarly, operate similarly, and/or have the same function unlessotherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification. Furthermore,particular features of one flexible container can replace correspondingfeatures in another flexible container unless otherwise indicated by thedrawings or this specification.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first flexible container 10 for containing aquantity of pourable product. FIG. 1 is front view; the rear view of theflexible container 10 is identical, but mirrored. The pourable productcan be a liquid, a powder, a plurality of discrete pieces, or anycombination thereof. The pourable product can be food product ornon-edible product. With respect to possible alternative pourable foodproducts, the pourable product in the first flexible container 10 can bea liquid such as ketchup or sauce or cream cheese, or a powder such assalt or pepper or other spices, or a plurality of discrete pieces suchas candy pieces or crackers or potato chips. These exemplary pourablefood products are set forth as examples and illustrations and not aslimitations.

The first flexible container 10 is in the form of a bag 12. As usedherein, “bag” refers to any flexible container operable to hold apourable product such as, by example and not limitation, a potato-chipstyle bag, a condiment packet, a fruit/vegetable sac, or a rock saltstyle bag. Alternative embodiments of the first flexible container 10can take the form of a packet or a pouch or a sack. The bag 12 has afirst closed end 14 and a second closed end 16 and a wall 18. The wall18 extends between the first closed end 14 and the second closed end 16to define a closed cavity. The bag 12 includes four corners 20, 22, 24,26 defined at the first and second ends 14, 16. Alternative embodimentsof the invention may include a bag having two corners at one end and anopposite end being rounded or two rounded ends.

The first flexible container 10 also includes a plurality of tearablescore lines 28, 30 spaced from one another to define a plurality ofdifferently configured intended openings 32, 34 in the bag 12. Inalternative embodiments of the invention, the plurality of score linesmay include more than two score lines to define more than two intendedopenings in the bag. In the first flexible container 10, the opening 32is a pour spout and the opening 34 is a display opening. The leaderlines extending from the numerals 32 and 34 are dashed in FIGS. 1 and 2because material has not been separated from the bag 12 to define theopenings 32, 34.

The score line 28 extends about a portion 38 of the second closed end 16to isolate the portion 38 from a first remainder of the bag 12. Thecorner 24 is included with the portion 38 of the second closed end 16.The score line 28 also extends about a portion 40 of the wall 18. Thefirst remainder of the bag 12 remains after the portions 38 and 40 havebeen removed. The path followed by the score line 28 defines the firstintended opening to the closed cavity, the pour spout 32.

The score line 30 is spaced from the score line 28 and extends about aportion 42 of the wall 18 to isolate the portion 42 from a secondremainder of the bag 12. The score line 30 also extends about a portion36 of the second closed end 16. The second remainder of the bag 12remains after the portions 36, 38, 40 and 42 have been removed. The pathfollowed by the score line 30 defines the second intended opening to theclosed cavity, a display opening 34. The display opening 34 is largerthan the pour spout opening 32. When the display opening 34 is formed,the portions 38, 40 which define the pour spout 32 are also removed fromthe bag 12. Both of the score lines 28 and 30 extend along endlesspaths, defining complete circles.

The first flexible container 10 can be opened in several ways. Eitherclosed end 14, 16 may be opened to gain access to the pourable productin the closed cavity. Alternatively, either the pour spout 32 or thedisplay opening 34 can be opened. For example, if the user of the firstflexible container 10 desires to pour the pourable product from thefirst flexible container 10, the user can directly grasp the corner 24with one hand and directly grasp the portion 36 of the second closed end16 with the other hand and twist the corner 24 and the portion 36relative to one another. The twisting will cause the bag 12 to tearalong the score line 28 and separate the corner 24 from the firstremainder of the bag 12, thus defining the pour spout opening 32.

Alternatively, if the user of the first flexible container 10 desires toexpose the pourable product in the first flexible container 10, thefirst flexible container 10 can function like a serving dish, such as abowl or platter. The user can directly grasp the portion 36 with onehand and directly grasp the corner 26 with the other hand and twist theportion 36 and the corner 26 relative to one another. The twisting willcause the bag 12 to tear along the score line 30 and separate both thecorner 24 and the portion 42 from the second remainder of the bag 12,thus defining the display opening 34.

As result, the first flexible container 10 allows a user to use and/orconsume the pourable product in different ways. The pour spout 32 can bea desirable opening if the user will be holding the first flexiblecontainer 10. The display opening 34 can be a desirable opening if thefirst flexible container 10 is placed on a surface. Furthermore, thefirst flexible container 10 allows a user to use and/or consume thepourable product in different ways during use and/or consumption. Forexample, the pour spout 32 can be opened initially and then the displayopening 34 can be opened subsequently if the conditions of use and/orconsumption change.

Each of the score lines 28, 30 include a pair of sub-score lines toenhance control over the tear of the bag 12. For example, the score line28 includes a primary score line 44 and back-up score line 46. The lines44, 46 are closely spaced to one another and extend substantiallyparallel to one another. The line 44 is the intended line of tear.However, during tearing, the line of tear may depart from the line 44.In such a circumstance, the line of tear will intersect the line 46 andfollow the line 46. As a result, the likelihood of over-tearing isreduced.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the score line 30. The bag 12 is formedfrom plastic and is multi-laminate. The score line 30 includes a primaryscore line 48 and back-up score line 50. The lines 48 and 50 can beformed with a die or with a laser or with any other score line-formingmethod/device known in the art. The exemplary lines 48 and 50 do notextend completely through the bag 12 to increase the likelihood that thepourable product in the bag 12 will remain fresh.

In the first flexible container 10, the second score line 30 encirclesthe first score line 28. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second flexible container10 a in the form of a packet 12 a having a different arrangement ofscore lines. The second flexible container 10 a is operable to contain aquantity of pourable product, such as powder 54 a, a liquid 56 a, aplurality of discrete pieces 58 a, or any combination thereof. A“liquid” includes any non-solid material regardless of viscosity. Thepacket 12 a with a first closed end 14 a and a second closed end 16 aand a wall 18 a. The wall 18 a extends between the first closed end 14 aand the second closed end 16 a to define a closed cavity. The packet 12a includes four corners 20 a, 22 a, 24 a, 26 a defined at the first andsecond ends 14 a, 16 a. The second flexible container 10 a also includesa plurality of tearable score lines 28 a, 30 a spaced from one anotherto define a plurality of differently configured intended openings 32 a,34 a in the packet 12 a. In the second flexible container 10 a, theopening 32 a is a pour spout and the opening 34 a is a display opening.Only the score line 28 a extends along an endless path to define acomplete circle. The score line 30 a includes an appreciable startingpoint and ending point, both disposed along the end 16 a.

The first and second flexible containers 10, 10 a demonstrate that theteachings of this application can be practiced in numerous ways. Forexample, in the first flexible container 10, the openings 32, 34 overlapsince the score line 30 encircles the score line 28. In the secondflexible container 10 a, the score lines 28 a, 30 a do not overlap. As aresult, a portion 38 a can be retained with respect to the bag 12 awhile the portion 42 a is removed from the bag 12 a. The portions 38 aand 42 a are spaced from one another. In addition, the first end closed14 a extends substantially parallel to said second closed end 16 a inthe second flexible container 10 a. The first closed end 14 extendssubstantially perpendicular to the second closed end 16 in the firstflexible container 10.

FIG. 6 shows a third flexible container 10 b operable to contain aquantity of pourable product, such as powder 54 b, a liquid 56 b, aplurality of discrete pieces 58 b, or any combination thereof. Theflexible container 10 b includes a bag 12 b having a first closed end 14b and a second closed end 16 b extending substantially parallel to thefirst closed end 14 b. The bag 12 b also includes a wall 18 b extendingbetween the first closed end 14 b and the second closed end 16 b todefine a closed cavity.

The bag 12 b also includes a tearable score lines 28 b, 30 b defining anintended openings directly to the closed cavity. The score line 30 bdivides the wall 18 b into a first portion 52 b engaged with both of thefirst closed end 14 b and the second closed end 16 b and a secondportion 42 b spaced from both of the first closed end 14 b and thesecond closed end 16 b. The tearable score line 30 b is exposed anddirectly graspable. The tearable score line 30 b extends along a closedpath and is exposed along all of the closed path. The tearable scoreline 30 b is the only link between the first portion 52 b and the secondportion 42 b. As a result, the bag 12 b can be permanently convertedinto a serving dish such a bowl or a platter. The bag 12 b requires noextraneous overlay or other link between the portions 42 b, 52 b, torender the portion 42 b a re-closable lid member to the bag 12 b, makingthe bag 12 b less costly and easier to open than bags in the prior art.

As set forth above, the flexible container 10 b can contain a pourablefood product. If the food product is a liquid, the liquid is flowablethrough an aperture formed when the tearable score line 30 b is torn andthe second portion 42 b is permanently separated from the first portion52 b. In one example, the bag 12 b may contain a quantity of ketchupdesirable for an event, such as a picnic. Instead of transporting alarge plastic bottle of ketchup, a user may acquire a bag 12 b with asmaller quantity of ketchup. The bag 12 b can be opened like a servingdish by removing the portion 42 b from the portion 52 b, the ketchupevacuated from the bag 12 b through a display opening 34 b during theevent, and the bag 12 b disposed after the event.

If the quantity of pourable food product is a plurality of discretepieces, the second portion 42 b can be larger than each of the pluralityof discrete pieces. In one example, the bag 12 b may contain a quantityof potato chips desirable for an event, such as a party. The portion 42b can be sized to allow a user to grasp a plurality of potato chips atone time and evacuate the potato chips from the bag 12 b.

The path followed by the tearable score line 30 b includes first andsecond hastate portions 60 b, 62 b. Alternative embodiments of theinvention may only include one hastate portion or may not include asingle hastate portion. The hastate portions 60 b, 62 b providelocations to initiate a tear of the score line 30 b. A user of the bag12 b can grasp one side of the score line 30 b, the portion 52 b, withone hand and grasp the other side of the score line 30 b, the portion 42b, with the other hand. Pinching the grasped portions 42 b and 52 b andpulling apart can result in the score line 30 b being torn.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth flexible container 10 c operable to contain aquantity of pourable product. The flexible container 10 c is the form ofa bag 12 c having a first closed end 14 c and a second closed end 16 cextending substantially parallel to the first closed end 14 c. The bag12 c also includes a wall 18 c extending between the first closed end 14c and the second closed end 16 c to define a closed cavity. The bag 12 calso includes a tearable score lines 28 c, 30 c defining an intendedopening directly to the closed cavity. The tearable score line 30 cincludes a primary score line 48 c and back-up score line 50 c closelyspaced to one another and extending substantially parallel to oneanother.

The flexible container 10 c also includes a longitudinal seam 64 cclosing the wall 18 c transverse to the first closed end 14 c and thesecond closed end 16 c. The tearable score line 30 c crosses thelongitudinal seam 64 c. Thus, the score line 30 c is disposed on theside of the bag 12 c that is generally the back side. First and secondtabs 66 c, 68 c are formed in the longitudinal seam 64 c. The tabs 66 c,68 c are contiguous with the tearable score line 30 c and can be engagedto initiate a tear in the score line 30 c. The tabs 66 c, 68 c can bealigned with the primary score line 48 c and can be helpful toaccomplish complete tearing of the score line 30 c across the seam 64 c.The tab 66 c can be pulled in a direction 70 c to tear the score line 30c across the seam 64 c and the tab 68 c can be pulled in a direction 72c to tear the score line 30 c across the seam 64 c.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with therelevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather thanlimiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosedembodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do comewithin the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legalprotection afforded this invention can only be determined by studyingthe following claims.

What can be claimed is:
 1. A flexible container for containing aquantity of pourable product comprising: a bag having a first closed endand a second closed end and a wall extending between said first closedend and said second closed end to define a closed cavity; and aplurality of tearable score lines in said bag extending along endlesspaths and spaced from one another to define a plurality of differentlyconfigured intended openings in said bag; at least one of said pluralityof tearable score lines having a primary score line and back-up scoreline closely spaced to one another and extending substantially parallelto one another, wherein each of said primary score line and said back-upscore line extend along an endless path in an outer surface of said bag;wherein said plurality of tearable score lines include a first scoreline extending about a corner of said bag, including a first portion ofone of said first and second ends and a first portion of said wall, todefine a pour spout for pouring the pourable product from the flexiblecontainer, and a second score line spaced from said first score line andextending around at least a second portion of said wall and a secondportion of one of said first and second ends to define a display openingfor exposing the pourable product in the flexible container.
 2. Theflexible container of claim 1 wherein second portion of said wall islarger than said first portion such that said second intended opening islarger than said first intended opening.
 3. The flexible container ofclaim 1 wherein said second score line is further defined as extendingaround at least a second portion of one of said first and second ends.4. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein said second score line isfurther defined as spaced from both of said first and second ends. 5.The flexible container of claim 1 wherein said second score lineencircles said first score line.
 6. The flexible container of claim 1wherein both of said first and second score lines extend along endlesspaths to completely encircle first and second portions of said bag. 7.The flexible container of claim 1 wherein only one of said first andsecond score lines extends along an endless path to completely encirclea portion of said bag.
 8. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein saidplurality of intended openings are further defined as being differentlysized from one another.
 9. The flexible container of claim 1 whereineach of said plurality of score lines includes a primary score line andback-up score line closely spaced to one another and extendingsubstantially parallel to one another.
 10. The flexible container ofclaim 1 wherein said first closed end extends substantially parallel tosaid second closed end.
 11. The flexible container of claim 1 whereinsaid first end closed extends substantially perpendicular to said secondclosed end.
 12. The flexible container of claim 1 further comprising: aquantity of at least one of powder, liquid, and discrete pieces.